Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Virtual

Barry Duffey (Vice Chair), Marsha Paley, Sille Nygaard Mikkelsen, Andy Lyster, Angela Richardson, Marwa Refaat, Len Collins, Jenna Dobson, Deanne Mayall and Alan Harrington

Michele Camacho, Rob Korporaal and Councillor Shawna Stolte

John O'Reilly (Heritage Planner) and Jo-Anne Rudy (Clerk)

The Vice Chair read the land acknowledgement.

On motion, the minutes from the meeting held March 8, 2023 were approved as presented.

  • John advised that on March 8, 2023, the owner of 795 Brant Street submitted a heritage permit application requesting permission to demolish the two-storey Georgian style building. The Ontario Heritage Act requires that the City approve or decline a heritage permit application no later than 90 days after it is deemed "complete". Staff sent the applicant a notice of completeness on March 23, 2023 confirming the application was complete on March 8, 2023, which is considered "Day 1" of the required 90 day period, so "Day 90" will be June 6, 2023.
  • Committee members discussed and agreed unanimously that this property should not be demolished. Motion - The Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee recommends that City Council refuse the application for a heritage permit to demolish the two-storey Georgian-style brick house at 795 Brant Street. CARRIED
  • John reviewed the City's Heritage Response to Bill 23 and noted the following six proposed stages of work that would occur between April 2023 and November 2024:
    • Develop heritage response plan - staff (Feb to May 2023)
    • Calculate financial impacts - staff (Mar 15 to  Apr 15, 2023)
    • Improve heritage processes - staff & HBAC (Apr 15 to Jun 27, 2023)
    • Communications with property owners - staff & HBAC (Aug 1 to Oct 31, 2023)
    • Voluntary designations - staff & HBAC (Oct 2023 to Mar 2024)
    • Evaluate Heritage Register & City initiated designations (Apr 2023 to Nov 2024).
  • John reviewed the documents in the Dropbox folder and identified the columns on the spreadsheet where information needs to be populated (Architectural style, property type, visibility from street, site integrity, estimated number of 9/06 criteria met) and requested volunteers from the committee to assist with this task. John noted that once this work is complete, prioritization of the properties can take place.
  • The following members volunteered:
    • Assessment - Deanne, Angela, Andy, Marwa
    • Visibility - Barry, Sille, Len, Alan
    • Integrity - Barry, Sille, Len, Alan
  • John advised that he will send out a task list to each volunteer and noted that the goal is to have this completed by the end of the summer. John will also send the GIS link that identifies heritage properties in the City.
  • Committee discussed the strategy and passed the following motion. Motion - The Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee recommends that City Council endorse the document "Heritage Response to Bill 23 - 2023-2025" dated April 2023, with the following amendment: Consider a prioritization mechanism, for example homes before schools, downtown vs rural areas; and recommends that City Council direct the Director of Community Planning to proceed with the work and report back in Q3 of 2023. CARRIED
  • John advised that Council approved the notice of intention to designate 496 Walker's Line on March 21 and noted that the objection deadline is April 21.
  • John stated that Council approved the notice of intention to designate 977 Unsworth Avenue and 488 Locust Street on March 21 and noted that the objection deadline is May 1.
  • John noted that staff are working on historical signage for the Elgin Promenade Square and he is hoping to bring a draft to the May meeting for committee to review.
  • John added that he was contacted by Angela Carr who is a retired professor of Art & Architectural History from Carlton University and she has offered to assist the committee and perhaps provide a lecture/presentation during Heritage Week. 
  • Marsha provided an update on Heritage Week and noted that there are currently 21 representatives from different community organizations and city departments who are offering to either host an event, an exhibit, arrange a special speaker or just work in collaboration with the sub-committee. The theme this year is celebrating Burlington's 150+ years, its Sesquicentennial. Marsha stated that there will be a broader view of heritage this year identifying not just built heritage, but also aesthetics, cultural, economic, literary, social and agricultural. Sub-committee members have been asked to provide the details for their respective activities by May 1, so Marsha will provide a further update at the May 10 meeting.
  • Alan advised that there will be an Open House at Freeman Station on April 29th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Alan shared that the Burlington Historical Society did a video on the Acland House at 383-385 Pearl Street. The link to the video is here

Vice Chair adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m.